UOW Riyadh

Following approval by UOW Council, UOW Global Enterprises is progressing plans to establish a campus in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the goal of opening in the second half of 2025.

This marks a significant development – UOW through UOWGE was the first foreign university to be awarded an Investment Licence under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and it reflects the strength of our reputation as a trusted global education partner. 

We acknowledge that it comes at a complex moment for the University in Australia, where the higher education sector is navigating structural change, financial constraint, and shifting policy conditions. 

The new campus is part of a broader approach to building UOW’s long-term resilience – here and globally – by drawing on the distinctive capability developed over three decades of delivering high-quality education offshore.

This decision is not about looking away from the challenges faced locally. It is about ensuring UOW’s continued strength, here and globally. 

UOW’s global growth does not come at the expense of its commitments at home.

The Australian Government's changes to international education and migration policy reinforce the need for UOW to leverage its unique offshore strengths at a time when government policy is limiting our ability to bring international students onshore.

The success of our offshore campuses contributes to UOW’s financial sustainability.

This is about ensuring our long-term strength – both here and internationally – by drawing on the distinctive capability we’ve built in offshore education.

The opportunity for UOWGE to engage in Saudi Arabia arose based on our successful network of global campuses, particularly UOW Dubai. And has been supported by Austrade, recognising our distinctive expertise in this space. 

The investment in Riyadh will be funded by UOW Global Enterprises out of available cash reserves from profits generated by its global operations. No funding is provided by UOW Australia.

UOW Global Enterprises (UOWGE) is a subsidiary group of the University of Wollongong and is aligned to the University’s strategic objectives of international student growth.

This expansion is part of a strategy to diversify revenue and reduce reliance on domestic income streams that are increasingly constrained by government policy. 

A detailed feasibility study was conducted to determine the demand for private foreign university education in Saudi Arabia.

The operating model pursued will be one where the initial investment will be limited.

The campus will be self-funding within a short period of time and the initial investment will be repaid through repatriation of profits.

With more than 30 years of experience operating international campuses, including in Dubai, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, UOW has demonstrated the ability to deliver high-quality education in diverse and complex environments.

Detailed due diligence was performed on the legal and political environment in Saudi Arabia including discussions with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and the Australian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Yemen.

No. UOW Dubai has a relatively small cohort of students from Saudi Arabia.

The market potential of a foreign university in Saudi is strong. There is existing unmet demand for university places in Saudi Arabia supported in the future by the plans of Saudi Vision 2030.

Planning is underway, with collaboration across faculties on the proposed course portfolio and approvals via our regular course approval processes.

The UOW Riyadh campus will launch later this year with English Language programs and Foundation programs in 2026 delivered by UOW College, followed by undergraduate degrees in 2027.

UOWGE evaluates every new market at length, not only for alignment to the University’s strategic goals but also how it aligns with our values.

The Riyadh campus will operate in alignment with UOW’s values of openness, empowerment and diversity.

The Saudi Vision 2030 is clear about social reform that is needed, and that education will be key to how they reach their goals.

We believe strongly in the transformative power of education and the impact and benefits it can bring to all of society and look forward to being a contributor to the transformation visible and underway in Saudi Arabia.

UOW’s values are central to everything we do, and academic freedom is a core principle.

Yes. UOW maintains strong oversight of its global campuses. UOW Riyadh will operate with the same academic quality frameworks, governance, and research ethics protocols that apply across the University. Academic freedom, cultural respect, and inclusion remain core principles.

UOW applies consistent academic quality standards to all programs—regardless of location. Courses at UOW Riyadh will be approved through UOW’s internal governance processes and delivered in accordance with the University’s frameworks for curriculum, assessment, and quality assurance.